The meal of the poor things was abundant, but they soon gave over, and in a few minutes they tumbled themselves into their heather beds, and were soon sunk in their innocent slumbers.

“Now, gentlemen, that we have eaten a better meal than we could expect in this miserable place, thanks to the kindness of our faithful flocks, what do you think of a sup of what’s in the keg?  Good eating deserves a drop of mixture after it, to aid in carrying on the process of digestion!  Father Hennessy, what are you at?” he exclaimed, addressing an exceedingly ill-looking man, with heavy brows and a sinister aspect.  “You forget, sir, that the management of the keg is my duty, whenever I am here.  You are the only person here who violates our regulations in that respect.  Walk back and wait till you are helped like another.  Do you call that being spiritually inclined?  If so, there is not a doubt of it but you ought to be a bishop; and if you come to that, I’ll stake my credit on it that you’ll never let much wind into your stomach so long as you can get plenty of the solids and fluids to keep it out.”

“I’m weak in the stomach,” replied Hennessy, with a sensual grin, “and require it.”

“But I say,” replied Father Maguire, “that it would require stronger proof than any your outward man presents to confirm the truth of that.  As for bearing a load either of the liquids or solids aforesaid, I’ll back your bit of abdomen there against those of any three of us.”

Cups and noggins, and an indescribable variety of small vessels that were never designed for drinking, were now called into requisition, and a moderate portion of the keg was distributed among them.  Reilly, while enjoying his cup, which as well as the others he did with a good deal of satisfaction, could not help being amused by the comical peculiarity of their disguises.

The sinister-looking clergyman, whom we have named Hennessy, subsequently became a spy and informer, and, we may add, an enemy equally formidable and treacherous to the Catholics of the time, in consequence of having been deprived of his clerical functions by his bishop, who could not overlook his immoral and irregular conduct.  He is mentioned by Matthew O’Connor, in his “History of the Irish Catholics,” and consigned to infamy as one of the greatest scourges, against both the priesthood and the people, that ever disgraced the country.  But it must be admitted that he stands out in dark relief against the great body of the Catholic priests at that period, whose firmness, patience, and fidelity to their trust, places them above all praise and all suspicion.  It is, however, very reasonable, that men so hunted and persecuted should be forced, not only in defence of their own lives and liberties, but also for the sake of their flocks, to assume such costumes as might most effectually disguise them, so that they would be able still, even in secret and by stealth, to administer the rites of